An exploratory study of the reasoning of two Hong Kong secondary six students about environmental issues: Two styles of environmental personality

Abstract

The case study explored the reasoning of two Hong Kong secondary six students about environmental issues by using semi‐structured interviews. Their supportive grounds based on knowledge, beliefs, and values concerning four areas were studied: (1) ecological principles; (2) behavioural justification; (3) intra and inter‐generational obligation; (4) religious/philosophical underpinnings. It appears that two environmental personality styles each bearing a coherent system of thoughts could be differentiated. The conservationist student argues with sound ecological principles, values of equity, futuristic obligation, and contentedness with material consumption; he adopts a wider socio‐political perspective to analyse issues, holds moral principles above inappropriate laws, and applies Christian thinking that regards humans as good managers of our earth. In contrast, the non‐conservationist student is deficient in environmental knowledge, follows social norms to justify behaviour, prefers unlimited personal freedom to choose lifestyle, and believes that inborn human nature is selfish and materialistic; he proposes that sustained economic growth should override environmental protection, for technology may solve pollution problems.

Keywords:

• reasoning
• environmental issues
• beliefs
• values
• moral maturity
• conservationist attitudes
• behavioural justification
• distributive justice
• environmental thinking